لاdo not تجزعيgrieve منat منهضيmy setting out ورحيليand my departure
لا تجزعي من منهضي ورحيلي
واستبشريand rejoice إِنif متI die أوor لقفوليat my return
واستبشري إِن مت أو لقفولي
Do not grieve at my setting out and departure.
Do not grieve for my rising and departure,
And rejoice if I die, or at my return.
And rejoice if I die or return,
إِنيindeed I امرؤa man هاجرتI have emigrated أرجوI hope for ماwhat رجاhoped for
إِني امرؤ هاجرت أرجو ما رجا
منone who فارقforsook الدنياthe world لغيرfor another سبيلpath
من فارق الدنيا لغير سبيل
I am a man who has emigrated, hoping for what was hoped for
I am a man who migrated hoping for what
by one who forsook the world for another path.
Those who left the world for no cause had hoped,
لوif تعلمينyou knew بحالتيof my condition لمnot تحمديyou would commend
لو تعلمين بحالتي لم تحمدي
نوميmy sleep ولاnor أبكاكmade you weep خطبthe ordeal of رحيليmy departure
نومي ولا أبكاك خطب رحيلي
If you knew my plight, you would not commend
If you knew my state you would not praise
my sleep, nor would the ordeal of my departure make you weep.
My sleep, nor would my departure make you weep,
حتىuntil متىwhen أثوىI dwell بأرضin a land عطلتwere suspended
حتى متى أثوى بأرض عطلت
منهاfrom it حدودprescribed bounds اللّهGod نحوwith regard to رُذولthe base
منها حدود اللّه نحو رُذول
How long shall I dwell in a land where
How long will I live in a land that has
God's prescribed bounds are left unenforced against the base?
Banned the laws of God and become vile,
يثنيholds back بدارin the abode of الخزيdisgrace وهنٌweakness أبلدdull-witted
يثني بدار الخزي وهنٌ أبلد
قدalready قيدتhave been bound أقدامهhis feet بكبولwith fetters
قد قيدت أقدامه بكبول
Dull weakness holds one back in the abode of disgrace,
Which humiliates the brave and shackles
his feet already bound in fetters.
Their feet in chains,
لاlet not يحسبthink السفهاءthe fools أنيthat I am منثنturning back
لا يحسب السفهاء أني منثن
عنfrom عزمةa firm resolve همَّتwas intent بأمرupon a matter ثقيلweighty
عن عزمة همَّت بأمر ثقيل
Let the fools not think I will turn back
The foolish do not think I will waver
from a resolve intent upon a weighty undertaking.
From my resolve in a grave matter,
لاno بدescape منfrom حلhalting ورحلand journeying وابتغاand seeking
لا بد من حل ورحل وابتغا
قومa people أوليpossessed of بأسmight لهمthey have وخيولand horses
قوم أولي بأس لهم وخيول
There must be halting, journeying, and seeking
There is no choice but to depart and seek
a people of valor, possessing horses as well.
A people of courage who have steeds,
قدmay يعرفواthey know منof همتيmy resolve ماwhat يعرفواthey know
قد يعرفوا من همتي ما يعرفوا
منof محضريmy presence يومthe day of الوغىbattle ونهولand drinking one's fill
من محضري يوم الوغى ونهول
They may know of my resolve what they know
They may recognize what they recognize
of my presence on battle day and my drinking my fill.
Of my zeal on the day of clamor and descent,
حسبيenough for me أسىًgrief منfrom قولهمtheir saying إنيthat I am امرؤa man
حسبي أسىً من قولهم إني امرؤ
يمَّمتI set out إِلاَّonly مرتجhoping لسئولfor a requested favor
يمَّمت إِلاَّ مرتج لسئول
Enough grief for me in their saying I am a man
It is enough grief for me what they say, that I am a man
who set out merely hoping for a favor.
Who has set out only for the worthless,
منfor أجلthe sake of بعدdistance قدalready رأواthey have seen أمor يحسبواthey think
من أجل بعد قد رأوا أم يحسبوا
أنthat الاخاbrotherhood فيin الدينthe faith غيرnot أثيلfirmly rooted
أن الاخا في الدين غير أثيل
Is it because of the distance they have seen, or do they think
Is it because of the distance they saw
that brotherhood in faith is not firmly rooted?
Or do they think brothers in faith are not loyal,
ماwhat بالis the matter with بلجBalj وابنand Ibn (son of) عوفAwf أقبلاthe two came
ما بال بلج وابن عوف أقبلا
أيامin the days of عبدAbd (servant) اللّهAllah (God) صدرat the head of رعيلa troop
أيام عبد اللّه صدر رعيل
What of Balj and Ibn Awf, who both came
What of Bilal and Ibn ‘Awf who set out
in the days of Abd Allah, at the head of a troop?
In the days of ‘Abdallah at the forefront,
فكفىso sufficient بهمare they إِنif لمnot أزرهمI visit them جحفلاًas a mighty host
فكفى بهم إِن لم أزرهم جحفلاً
أطفيI quench بهwith it أحزانthe sorrows of كلevery غليلone burning with anguish
أطفي به أحزان كل غليل
So they suffice as a mighty host, even if I do not visit them,
They suffice me, even if I do not join them with an army,
with which I quench the sorrows of every burning heart.
To quell with it the sorrows of every anguish,
إِنindeed الذيthe one whom جشمتI burdened نفسيmyself قصدهseeking him
إِن الذي جشمت نفسي قصده
مستنصراًseeking help للدينfor the faith غيرnot خذولone who forsakes others
مستنصراً للدين غير خذول
Indeed, the one I have burdened myself to seek,
What I have determined for myself to pursue,
seeking aid for the faith, is no deserter.
As a supporter of the faith, not failing,
هلis there منany حميّfiercely protective الأنفof his honor (literally, nose) يرميwill venture ماas ارتمىventured
هل من حميّ الأنف يرمي ما ارتمى
سيفSayf إِلىto كسرىKisra لقصدto seek خليلa friend
سيف إِلى كسرى لقصد خليل
Is there a proud-spirited man who will venture as
Is there one proud who can shoot an arrow
Sayf ventured to Kisra, in quest of a friend?
At Chosroes intending to meet the Friend,
قدindeed عالجgrappled الاخوانthe brethren ليلاًby night مثلjust like ماwhat
قد عالج الاخوان ليلاً مثل ما
عالجتهاI grappled with it فيin جنحthe darkness of ليلa night طوبلunclear spelling; apparently 'long'
عالجتها في جنح ليل طوبل
The brethren have grappled by night, much as
The brothers have treated the nights as I
I grappled with it in the darkness of a long night.
Treated them in the wings of long nights,
حسبيenough for me بنجليwith my son أحمدAhmad أوor بالفتىwith the youth
حسبي بنجلي أحمد أو بالفتى
منfrom طارقTariq فيin رحلتيmy travels وحلوليand my halts
من طارق في رحلتي وحلولي
My son Ahmad suffices me, or the young man
It suffices me my son Ahmad or the youth
from Tariq, in my travels and my halts.
From Tariq among my equipment and arrival,
أكرمhow noble بهمthey are منas فتيةyoung men أكرمhow noble بهمthey are
أكرم بهم من فتية أكرم بهم
ناديهمtheir assembly ناديan assembly of حمىrefuge وجميلand kindness
ناديهم نادي حمى وجميل
How noble these young men are—how noble they are!
I honored among the finest youths, I honored them
Their assembly is an assembly of refuge and kindness.
Calling them the tribe of zeal and beauty,
ماnever موقفاًa place of standing واقفتهمI stood with them إِلاَّexcept that بكواthey wept
ما موقفاً واقفتهم إِلاَّ بكوا
دينthe faith of الهدىguidance عنout of حرقةburning grief وعويلand wailing
دين الهدى عن حرقة وعويل
Never did I stand beside them anywhere but they wept
Never have I placed them except they wept
for the faith of guidance, with burning grief and wailing.
For the religion of guidance from burning and wailing,
ياO معبدMa'bad ياO أحمدAhmad سيراًjourney onward فقدfor indeed
يا معبد يا أحمد سيراً فقد
سارhas set forth الرضاthe approved one عبدAbd (servant) الالهal-Ilah (God) خليليmy friend
سار الرضا عبد الاله خليلي
O Ma'bad, O Ahmad, onward! For
O Ma’bad O Ahmad travel, for satisfaction
Abd al-Ilah, the approved one, my friend, has set forth.
Traveled Abdulillah my dear friend,
وارمواand drive onward بناwith us نحوtoward الخليلthe close friend المرتضىthe approved one
وارموا بنا نحو الخليل المرتضى
المفزعthe refuge المأوىthe shelter لكلfor every دخيلseeker of protection
المفزع المأوى لكل دخيل
And drive us toward the well-approved friend,
And head with me to the approved Friend,
the refuge, the shelter of every seeker of protection.
The refuge, sanctuary for every newcomer,
ذاكthat one الذيwho جلىbrought to light عماناOman بعدماafter
ذاك الذي جلى عمانا بعدما
واراهمhid them غيمthe cloud of الطغىtyranny بذيولwith trailing skirts
واراهم غيم الطغى بذيول
He it is who brought Oman to light, after
He who manifested Oman after
the cloud of tyranny had hidden its people in its trailing skirts.
The cloud of injustice had covered them with its trails,
ذاكthat one الذيwho يخطوtreads خطاthe footsteps منof صارفيthose who repelled
ذاك الذي يخطو خطا من صارفي
واديWadi (valley) القرىal-Qura (the villages) أوor آسكAsak ونخيلand Nakhil
وادي القرى أو آسك ونخيل
He it is who treads the steps of those who repelled attack
He who travels a path taken by the turning
at Wadi al-Qura, or Asak and Nakhil.
Valleys of Quray or the Askar and palms,
ذاكthat one الذيwho أبداshowed لناto us ماwhat قدalready مضىhas passed
ذاك الذي أبدا لنا ما قد مضى
منof راشدRashid والصلتand al-Salt وابنand Ibn (son of) رحيلRuhayl
من راشد والصلت وابن رحيل
He it is who has shown us the past
He who showed us what had passed
of Rashid, al-Salt, and Ibn Ruhayl.
From Rashid, Al Salt and the son of departure,
ذاكthat one الذيwho لماhas not yet يزلceased مستلئماًclad in armor
ذاك الذي لما يزل مستلئماً
للّهfor God فيamong المستلئمينthose clad in armor عدولupright
للّه في المستلئمين عدول
He it is who has never ceased to be armored
He who has never ceased to blame
for God, upright among those clad in armor.
The Allah-blaming among the unjust,
ياO خيرbest خلّfriend فيin الالهGod أجبanswer أجبanswer
يا خير خلّ في الاله أجب أجب
ناداكcalled to you اخوانbrethren بوجهwith a face of قبولacceptance
ناداك اخوان بوجه قبول
O best of friends in God, answer, answer!
O best successor in God, answer, answer
Brethren have called to you with a face of welcome.
The call of brothers with acceptance
ياO خيرbest خلfriend خرّبتhave been devastated أوطانناour homelands
يا خير خل خرّبت أوطاننا
واستعبدand enslaved السفاهthe fools كلevery نبيلnoble person
واستعبد السفاه كل نبيل
O best of friends, our homelands have been laid waste,
O best successor, our homelands are in ruins
and fools have enslaved every noble man.
And the ignorant enslave all the nobles,
ياO خيرbest خلfriend لمnot نطقwe were able دفعwarding off الأذىharm
يا خير خل لم نطق دفع الأذى
عنfrom أخذseizing مكنونhidden stores وجذّand cutting down نخيلpalms
عن أخذ مكنون وجذّ نخيل
O best of friends, we could not ward off the harm:
O best successor, we cannot speak of preventing harm
the seizure of hidden stores and the felling of palms.
From taking the hidden, and stripping the palm trees,
ياO خيرbest خلfriend لوif ترىyou could see منfrom نحوناour direction
يا خير خل لو ترى من نحونا
منof شقشقاتthe bellowing of البغيoppression بعدafter صهيلneighing
من شقشقات البغي بعد صهيل
O best of friends, if you could see, in our region,
O best successor, if you could see what faces us
the bellowing of oppression after the neighing!
Of the neighing of tyranny after the neighing,
ياO خيرbest خلfriend هلis there لناfor us منany راحةrespite
يا خير خل هل لنا من راحة
مماfrom what لديناwe have منof دناةbase people غفولheedless
مما لدينا من دناة غفول
O best of friends, is there any respite for us
O best successor, is there any rest for us
from the base, heedless folk in our midst?
From the wrongdoers among us, heedless,
ياO خيرbest خلfriend منwhoever بقيremained منfrom بعدناafter us
يا خير خل من بقي من بعدنا
أضحىhas come to be لدىbeside المحرابthe prayer niche ضربbeating طبولdrums
أضحى لدى المحراب ضرب طبول
O best of friends, whoever remained after us
O best successor, those who remain after us
has come to beat drums beside the prayer niche.
Have become drums beaten at prayer niches,
ياO خيرbest خلfriend غالناravaged us ماwhat غالكمravaged you
يا خير خل غالنا ما غالكم
فيماin what مضىhas passed منfrom ديلمDaylam وعقيلand Uqayl
فيما مضى من ديلم وعقيل
O best of friends, we have been ravaged by what ravaged you
O best successor, we have strained for what strained you
in bygone days, from Daylam and Uqayl.
In the past from the Delam and ‘Uqayl,
ياO خيرbest خلfriend أصبحتhave become أسواقناour markets
يا خير خل أصبحت أسواقنا
أسواقmarkets of سحتillicit gain واعتداand aggression ومحولand barrenness
أسواق سحت واعتدا ومحول
O best of friends, our markets have become
O best successor, our markets have become
markets of illicit gain, aggression, and barrenness.
Markets of debauchery, transgression and corruption,
ياO خيرbest خلfriend حسبناenough for us أنthat الفتىa young man
يا خير خل حسبنا أن الفتى
يجزيrepays الفتىa young man كيلاa measure بصاعwith a saʿ measure مكيلmeasured
يجزي الفتى كيلا بصاع مكيل
O best of friends, it suffices us that a young man
O best successor, it is enough for us that the youth
repays another young man's measure with a measured saʿ.
Rewards the youth in full and honest measure,
ياO خيرbest خلfriend قدindeed غلبناwe have been overcome فانتصرso win us victory
يا خير خل قد غلبنا فانتصر
وانظرand consider لناfor us فيconcerning رأيa plan عزمresolve أصيلwell-founded
وانظر لنا في رأي عزم أصيل
O best of friends, we have been overcome, so win us victory!
O best successor, we are overcome so be victorious,
And consider for us a course of well-founded resolve.
And look after us with sound resolute counsel,
واعلمand know بأنthat المالthe wealth إِنif أسديتهyou bestow it
واعلم بأن المال إِن أسديته
دونapart from الورىhumankind لمnot تغشهyou clothe it بقبولwith acceptance
دون الورى لم تغشه بقبول
And know that, if you bestow wealth
And know that wealth, if you bestow it
to the exclusion of others, you will not clothe it in acceptance.
On the people, you have not deceived them in acceptance,
واغفرand forgive خطاياthe faults of مذنبa sinner إِذwhen قالhe said ماwhat
واغفر خطايا مذنب إِذ قال ما
لمnot ترضهyou approved it لماwhen عنيhe was preoccupied بسئولwith a request
لم ترضه لما عني بسئول
And forgive a sinner's faults when he said what
And forgive the sins of a sinner when he says what
you did not approve, while preoccupied with a request.
Does not please you from a worthless one,
والنارand the Fire مثواهhis abode وحسبand sufficient قعرهاits depths
والنار مثواه وحسب قعرها
إِنif رامhe seeks هذاthis الافتخارboasting وحيلand tricks
إِن رام هذا الافتخار وحيل
And the Fire is his abode—its depths are enough—
And Hellfire is his abode, and the bottom of it is enough
if he seeks such boasting and tricks.
If he desires this boasting and tricks,
والحمدand praise للّهto God الذيwhose قدindeed قدستhave been sanctified
والحمد للّه الذي قد قدست
أسماؤهHis names عنbeyond والدa parent وسليلand offspring
أسماؤه عن والد وسليل
And praise be to God, whose hallowed
And praise to Allah who has sanctified
names are beyond parent and offspring.
His names from a parent or offspring,
ثمthen السلامpeace الأطيبthe purest الساميthe loftiest علىupon
ثم السلام الأطيب السامي على
مبعوثهHis emissary الأميّthe unlettered خيرbest رسولmessenger
مبعوثه الأميّ خير رسول
Then the purest, loftiest peace be upon
Then the finest, highest peace upon
His unlettered emissary, the best of messengers.
His unlettered Messenger, the best of messengers.